Bombardier Beetle Sprays Poisonous Mist

Function

When the Bombardier Beetle (Pheropsophus jessoensis) feels threatened, it immediately emits a loud noise and a foul-smelling gas from its posterior end, towards the predator in self-defense. The liquid spray reaches a temperature of 100°C, inflicting burns on its natural predators (frogs and birds.) Human skin will also burn, turn brown, and retain the spray’s foul smell. The beetle can spray in any direction by changing the angle of its body, and can also spray multiple times in succession. The beetle does not store this poisonous mist in its body. Instead it creates the spray on demand by combining two different chemicals that are stored separately in its stomach. When the beetle senses danger, these two chemicals are sent to an area called the “reaction chamber” where they interact to create the poisonous mist. Further, the heat and pressure generated by the explosive reaction of the chemicals is transfered to a high-temperature, high-pressure spray directed toward the beetle’s enemy. By storing the two chemicals for the poisonous mist separately and making only the necessary amount when needed, the beetle can efficiently use its poisonous mist without waste.

Functional Classification

Resouce/Energy/Information Transmission & Production:
Heat generationScentSpray

Environmental Solution Classification

Related Literature

Technical Application

The Bombardier Beetle’s defense mechanism has been used to develop new air conditioners that spray a fine mist of water and absorb heat when the water evaporates. It has also been used in fire extinguisher systems that need to mix two chemicals together before emission.

Products and Services

Type of Business

Proposals of Applied Technology

The beetles’ spray mechanism can be used to develop new types of fire extinguishers and sprays, including multi-purpose automatic fire extinguishers that spray a mist of fire-extinguishing agents. It can also be used in new types of medical inhalers and aerosols that do not require a spring mechanism to disperse contents.

Proposals of Applied Industry

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